John "Jack" Richard Guethlein

John Richard Guethlein - “Diamond Jack” 

Of North Platte, NE, died on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at the North Platte Care Center at the age of 88. 

John (Jack) Richard Guethlein was born to John and Emma (Peterson) Guethlein at their homestead in Peno Basin, near Quinn, South Dakota on March 14, 1936. He was the youngest of six children, having five older sisters, with the closest one being 8 years older. 

Jack attended his early school years at a country school not far from the family farm where on an occasion or two he was taught by one of his five sisters. He went on to attend Wall High School graduating in May of 1954. 

After high school Jack joined the United States Army. He did his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. From here he was stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas prior to being shipped to England where he would complete his two years of service. 

Upon returning home Jack helped his parents run the family farm. After his father’s passing in 1960, he would run the farm/ranch until he sold it in 1964. At this juncture Jack switched career paths going into the liquor retail business. 

He bought his first bar in Valentine, NE in 1965 called the Diamond Bar. Legend has it that during his first year in business, a little girl once asked him his name, which he told her, Jack Guethlein. Not being able to pronounce his last name, she said, “I’m just going to call you “Diamond Jack.” Jack owned the Diamond Bar until 1981 when he sold it. 

During his time in Valentine, Jack would marry his first wife, Wilma J. Phipps - Bruns in January of 1966. They had one child, a son, John Samuel Guethlein. They would divorce after three years of marriage. Jack was married again in 1976 to Dorthy Paxton. Their marriage ended around 1980.

After leaving Valentine in 1980, Jack bought a liquor store in Hemingford, NE that he owned and operated for two years. Becoming restless with the sedentary life of a small liquor store, he bought the 77 Longbranch Saloon in Chadron, NE. Jack had one of the first mechanical bucking bulls in the area in this establishment. He was in Chadron for a couple of years prior to selling and then buying what would be his last bar, the Corner Bar, in Crawford, NE.  Jack operated this establishment from 1984 until the early 2000s when he sold and decided to retire. All of Jack’s businesses were aptly named Diamond Jack’s.

During his retirement Jack stayed in Crawford for a few years prior to moving back to Valentine for close to four years. In 2010 Jack moved to North Platte to be closer to his son John, and his family, and would remain there until his passing. 

Throughout his life Jack loved to visit Las Vegas, NV where at times he won big, followed by other times losing the same. He enjoyed betting on many sports, mainly football, playing in poker games and tournaments, and was an avid cribbage player, but only if it were for a wager. Along with gambling, Jack was known to love big cars, especially Lincoln Continentals and Cadillacs, of which he owned several. 

Throughout the years Jack made many friends through his businesses and became somewhat of a legend on Highway 20 known all along the route from Valentine to Crawford as “Diamond Jack”. He had friends come from far and wide just to drop in and say hello.

 His later years were spent enjoying watching the Rodeo and Western Channels while taking it easy in his Lazy Boy recliner. Jack was a lifelong reader, enjoying westerns, stories of the mafia, biographies, and mystery’s. 

Jack is survived by his son, John S. (Lora) Guethlein of North Platte, NE, his granddaughter, Shaylee R. (Anthony) Yates of Bellevue, NE, his grandson, John G. (Bailee) Guethlein of North Platte, and his great granddaughter, Raelee J. Yates of Bellevue, as well as several nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. 

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, John and Emma, his sisters, Margorie Willuweit, Helen Rittberger, Dorothy Burch, Maxine Smith, and Frances (Babe) Poste.

A celebration of life will take place later this summer in Quinn, South Dakota, where Jack will be buried alongside his parents at the Mount Hope Cemetery. 

A special note of appreciation and gratitude to the wonderful staff at the North Platte Care Center for taking such great care of Jack over the past 6 years. 

Carpenter Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements.  Online condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.carpentermemorial.com.